Boil-off apparatus for textile fabrics



Oct. 7, 1952 v.vT. FAHRINGER Bon-@RR APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS 'Filed Jan. 31, 1951 6 Sheets-.amat l I Hs* mm R @MII

mwN bwl www Q @RAA m@ a ATTORNEYS oct. 7; 1952 v. T. FAHRINGER 2,612,770

BOIL-OFF APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Jan. 5l, 1951 6 Sheets-.nneet 2 l V/croR 7. 5mn/msm, INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1952 v. T. FAHRINGER BOTA-OFF APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS 6 Sheets-omet 3 Filed Jan. 31, 1951 nhl INVENTOR.

JMM,

ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1952 v. T. FAHRINGER 2,612,770

BOIL-OFF APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Jan. s1, 1951 e sheets-sheet 4 V/c rop 7.' HHM/6H?,

INVENTOR- JN M ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1952 v. T. FAHRINGER 2,612,770

BOIL-OFF APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Jan. 3l, 1951 6 Sheets-cinesi. 5

V/cron I EMR/Nam,

N i! El INVENTOR- l\ 2q m N I APM ATTORNEYS Oct. 7, 1952 v. T. FAHRINGER 2,612,770

BOIL-OF'F APPARATUS FOR TEXTILE FABRICS Filed Jan. 3l, 1951 6 Sheets-o'neec 6 'V/cron Z` flan/msm,

INVENTOR.

BY 5MM-*M ATTORNEYS Patented ct. `7, 195.2

Bom-ort'. APPARATUS Foa TEXTILE:

FABRICS VictorTiFahringer, Clarksville, Va.,vassignor to `Robbins*Mills-I vInc., New Yoljlny N. Yj.,v a 'corpol 4ration of-New- York Applcaztionlanuary 31, 195.13. .SerialiNQ 2081165 This invention relates ytofan` apparatus. for processing textile fabricsy andmorefjespeeially to an impro-ved boil-oit apparatus: through which textile fabrics are passed before thedyeing and finishing operations so asv to removethe sizing from the yarns in the textile fabric.' I n order that fabric may be completely immersed. njxand thoroughly penetrated by the boil-orf liquid 'as it is passed through a {boil-off apparatusithas been found desirable-to introduce a fabric into the boil-cfr" bath and to progres-stilev same through the boil-01T bath `for a `predete'rminecl length of time in theformof spacedeloops whereby the entire surface of the-fabricilsdisposedto i the boil-oir liquid, However; since all textile fabrics are relatively lighter than the'y liquidA in which the sizing is boiled oir, dicu-ltyhas been experienced in maintaining the loop c onguration 'of the fabric at it passes throughthe boil'- oi liquid since theloops formed wouldl tendj to oat cn the boil-off liquid and-Would collapse as the fabric passed into `the liquid thus resulting in opposed portions of-l the loops-engaging each other and resulting in the Ifabricbeing unevenly penetrated by the boil-off liquid, which; `of course, would result in thefabric being marlgedorspotted in the dyeing or nishing--processes.v e

It is therefore, the primary objectp-thisinvention to provide an'improvementin-aboil-oi n apparatus including means fordistendingj the preformed spaced loops in the fabric'y asy it is made to progress throughjthe boil-offbathj-to thus insure that the entire surface; lofrthe fabricL is exposed to the laoil-oiif'liquidl andjwhlchhot only results in a greater efciencyandfeconomy of operation but also permits acontinuous boilo process and whereby speed; ofA operation'is'vincreased and insures that thefabricwill becompletely immersed in and'pen'etrated-by the jboiloff operation. u

It is another object of/fthis' invention to provide carrier means or conveyor nfieansL for-'the fabric having means associated therewith for forming loops from the fabric andI subsequently passing the fabric inV loop Vform throughY ,the boiloff liquid and means for-"causing the-loops to maintain an invertedv attitudeV asth'eyjprOgreSs through the boil-off liquid,4 tl'iis last-namedF means including means for -circulating'they boiloff liquid upwardly fromthe; glowerrnostv portion of the boil-off apparatus andthrough the loops disposed thereabove. 'u

Some of the objects ofk the* inventionjhaving been stated. other objectsy wilrappear ,as the description proceeds, when takenfinjconnection with the accompanying drawings'nwhich- Eig/ure lisa left-hand' side elevation of ythe izrnnovecl boil-ofi. apparatusuwith. certain parts beingoinitted and other parts being broken away in. order to. fully. illustrate the primary features ofthe invention; l

Figure 2 is an elevation looking .at the lefthand end. of Figure. 1 with the upper portion thereofI broken away, and shcwi'rigthe ordis# charge end of the apparatus.;

Figure 3'isanenlarged fragmentary elevation showing the. manner. in which the conveyorv chain is' constructed;

Figure is an elevatiomwith partsfinsection; I lQOklg .Substantially'alongthe line, 4,..f.'l3` inFfgi urey 2 but` with thel central. portion4` 0f. vtl'rertankl beiner broken away soas. to illustrate the driving means for theapparatum.. IA p l A stantially; alongthe` line ,E2- 5in Figure 1 and showing the variouss'probket wheelsbutoinitting all'orthe. sprockleftchans forpurposesof altar-ity; .Figure 6I isfa'nv 'enlarged vertical .Sectional View taken. substantially/along. menne' rif-t in' his'` Figure 7' is a topl plan View theapparatus.

tine .allier the varousgm'orable' partsof' therein-P i params. S0 as; to: clearly' illustrate the; arra1-1ee'-y mentloftherpnia: e .Eeure 8. is schematic isometric? view Heine.

partially explodedfand Showingj'the arrangement.

0f; the piping; for Circulating@ thev .boil-Off liquid' thrQugh; the' 'apparains'V and'. 'also Showins the piping `for maintaipingja uniform temperature of]l the` boil"-off;"liquid, the tankv and; all, movableA parts of4 the. apparatus'being omitted for purposes c f clarity;.`

leferringwmore"specically to: the drawings, the. numeral 1.0; broadly designates' the` bon-off' tanlhavin'gy a-,bottom IIfoppolsed side walls l^2 andv I3 and` 'opposed endl walls r4 and l 5" which are suitably'joined`V together Saas to"retain Aa suitable boil-off liquid' indicaitedatv V6: For'purposesjoi description'. it 'is toj'be assumedl that* the4 rear ofthe apparatusis disposedin the direction.

cir-movement of the material' therethrough and, therefore, theendwalls I'andfl Elshall bev hereinafter'referred' to asf-fthe fronti and rear- Walls, respectively, and-the side walls [Tand- Ie shall be hereinafter referred to as thev left-hand' andV the right-handl `'side walls,urespectively.

Itiwillb'e observed in `FiguresfZ and.' 5' that`V are spaced" inwardlr from th." respective. side l n i 3 tom upwardly and terminate a substantial distance short of the upper edges of the end walls |4 and |5. These partitions 20 and 2| have secured to the outer or opposed surfaces thereof vertically disposed frame members or standards 22 to 25,*inclusive, and 26 to 29, inclusive, respectively, which are secured thereto by any suitable means such as by bolts 30. These bolts also serve to secure opposed ends of transverse frame members 34, 35, 36 and 31 to the proximate surfaces of the partitions 20 and 2| It will be observed in Figure '1 that opposed ends of the end walls 60 and 6| are joined by a top wall 62, a bottom wall 63 and an outer wall 64. It will be observed in Figure 6 that the cascade boxes 51 and 51 are provided with respective upwardly diverging walls 65 and 65 which extend from the proximate edges of the bottom walls 63 and 63' and terminate short of the proximate edges of the upper or top walls 62 and 62'. The respective end walls 60 and 60 are penetrated by pipes 66 and 66 which extends outwardly and are suitably connected for communication to a transverse frame member 34 are secured to the y partitions 20 and 2| between the vertically disposed frame members 22 and 26, the transverse frame members being disposed between the vertically disposed members 23 and 21, the transverse frame member 36 being secured between the vertically disposed frame members 24 and 28 and the transverse frame member 31 being secured between the vertically disposed frame members 25 and 29. In Figure 1, it will be observed that these transverse frame members are spaced slightly above the ooror bottom II and are merely provided to vsupport a pair of pipes to be later described.V f

The front end of a horizontally disposed frame member is suitably secured, as by bolts 4|, to the upper end of the vertically disposed frame member'22 which etendssubstantially above the tank I6 and this horizontally disposed frame member 40 is secured at its rear end, as by bolts 42, intermediate the ends of the vertically disposed frame member 25. The vertically disposed frame members 23 and 24, which are spaced between the vertically disposed frame members 22 and25, are also secured intermediate their ends to the horizontally disposed longitudinally extending frame member 40 by any suitable means such as .bolts 43. A similar longitudinally extending frame member 44 disposed at the same elevation as the'frame member 46, is suitably secured to the inner surfaces of the vertically disposed frame members 26, 21, 28 and 29, as by bolts 45 (Figure').

Referring to Figure 1, the fabric to be processedis generally" designated at F and is directed from a suitable source at the front end ofthe apparatus to a roller 5U which is suitably journaled at opposed ends thereof in bearing blocks 5| suitably secured to the vertically disposed frame members 23 and 21, this roller extending transversely of the apparatus and being disposed between these frame members 23 and 21. The fabric F then partially encircles a suitable cloth feeding roll 52 covered by'a suitable friction material such as cloth which is fixed on a shaft 53 suitably journaled at opposed ends thereof in bearing blocks 54 which are suitably secured to the vertically disposed frame members 23 and 21 abovethe bearing blocks 5|.

The fabric F then extends downwardly from the roll 52 and passes between a pair of closely spaced cascade boxes 51 and 51 (Figures 15 and 6) both of which are identical except being opposite hand and therefore only the cascade box 51 will be described in detail andthe parts of the cascade box 51 will bear. the same reference characters as those parts associated with the cascade box 51 with the prime `notation added. The cascade boxes 51 and 51 rest upon spaced beams 58 and 58' respectively which are welded at opposed ends to side frame members 4D and 44. The cascade box 51 is closed at opposed ends thereof by. end walls 60 and 6| and these pipe 10 which is a part of the piping diagram to be later described.

The pipes 66 and 66 direct boil-olf liquid to the cascade boxes 51 and 51' respectively, and thus the boil-off liquid overflows the proximate walls 65 and 65 of the cascade boxes 51 and 51 and tends to urge the fabric F downwardly between the boxes and also assists in forming loops thereof in a manner to be later described.

The fabric F then extends downwardly past a roller 1| to a conveyor broadly designated at C. This roller 1| is journaled at opposed ends thereof for rotation inthe free ends of a pair of pivoted arms 12 and 13 which extend upwardly and rearwardly at an angle and are pivotally connected, as at 14, to the remote surfaces of the longitudinally extending frame members 4U and 44.

Referring to Figure 3, there is shown a relatively small section of the conveyor C which comprises a pair of sprocket chains 15 and 16 which are spaced substantially apart from each other and in parallel relation to each other. The chains 15 and 16 are lroller chains and alternate pins 11 thereof have enlarged opposed ends of transverse bars or poles suitably secured thereto and the pins disposed between `the alternate pins each have an inwardly extending stub shaft or relatively short bar 8| extending inwardly therefrom, the proximate ends of the bars 6| on the conveyor chain 15 being spaced substantially from the proximate ends of the corresponding end of the bars 8| on the conveyor chain 16. -The length of the roller 1| between the reduced journal portions thereofis. such that the roller will rest upon either the pins or stub shafts 8| at opposed ends thereof or upon the enlarged end portions of the transverse bars 80 as the conveyor C moves in a clockwise direction therebeneath in Figure l. It will be notedv that the upper reaches of the chains 15 and 16 of the conveyor C are slidably supported on angle bars 15a and 16a, respectively, which are suitably secured, as by welding, to the vertically disposed frame members 23 and 24 and 21 and 28, respectively. The upper reach of the conveyor C moves inthe opposite direction from that in which the fabric F is passed through the machine. This conveyor is driven, in a manner to be later described, at a speed proportionate to the speed at which the speed roll 52 is driven. in a manner which will also be later described, to thus cause the roll 52 to direct a predetermined length of fabric to the conveyor C so as to form loops 82 in the fabric as it is directed to the conveyor.

The roll 1|- is provided to insure that the fabric will be properly laid over the upper surfaces of thevtransversebars 80 of the conveyor as these bars 80 move through the upper reach of the conveyor C and the cascade boxes 51 and 51' cause the boilfoff liquid to cascade downwardly and to thus tend to urge the fabric F downwardly between adjacent transverse bars 80 of the conveyor chain C soas to form the loops 82 of predetermined length.

The conveyorchain 15 (Figure l), which is an endless. chain, is mounted on sprocket. wheelsor rollers 83 to. 88, inclusive.. All ofthe sprocket wheels 83-and 85to 8.8, inclusive, are idlersprockets or rollers and are mounted' on respectivel stub shafts 9D to 94 and thestub shafts. 98, 9| and'194 aresuitably secured to the innery surfaces. ofthe respective vertically disposed frame members 24; 22 and 25. The stub shafts 92 and 93 are'suitably secured to the innerfaces of' respectivehorizontally disposed frame members 95 and 96fwhich are welded at opposed ends thereof' to therespec-v tive vertically disposedframe. members22 and 23 and 24 and 25, respectivelyfFigure 1)".

The chain 16 has been omitted 'from Figure, 4. forA purposes. of. .clarity but .is mounted in alike manner on the sprocketgwheels. ||||l.to |85, in-

clusive, shownin Figure 4'. Thesprocketwheels |86, |82., |83, Iliand |815 arel rotatably mounted on respective-stub shafts l'ito H8; inclusive. The stub shaft.' 86 is fixed-1y mounted onthe ver-` tically disposed frame members .28 thefstub shaftl |81 is iixedly mounted on theverticallydisposed frame member 28 and the st ub shaft |08- is fixedly mounted on a horizontally disposediframe-.memberV lil which is weldedl at opposed ends vthereof to the proximate surfaces of thevertically. disposed frame members 26 and 21. The-stub shaft` ably secured to the outer surfaces of the ver-V tically disposed framememb'ers 23 and 21.`

The. loop formations 82 of the fabric` F are maintained in a mannerto belaterfdescribed' as the conveyor C moves. in a .clockwise direction in Figure land as the 4lower reach of the conveyor C moves. out of the boil-off liquid |8..in the lefthand end of Figure 1, the fabric is .withdrawn therefrom over a suitable roll 28 which is prefer ably cloth covered and `isxedlymounted on a shaft |2| rotatablyy mounted at opposed ends thereof in suitable bearing blocks |22, only one of which is shown in Figure l, suitably secured to the outer surfaces of the vertically 'disposed frame members 24. and 28. Theifabric vthen extends' from theupper surface of the roll |`28--to1af similar roll |25 whichais also preferablyv cloth cov-` ered and then extends downwardly to be folded or otherwise disposed ofv in any desired manner.v

The roll |25s iixedly mounted on a vshaft |26 rotatably mounted in bearing blocks |21 which are suitably secured to the upper surfaces of 'a pair of horizontally disposed frame members |36 and I3! which extend forwardly and are suitably secured, as by bolts |32 tothe upperends of vertically disposed frame -members 25"and 29, respectively.

Referring to Figure 4, thereis shown a suitable framework generally designated at` |35 and which has a lower platform |36 and an upper platform |31. The lower platform |36` hasanelectric motor |48, a suitable variable speed unit |4| and a gear reduction unit |42 thereon. TheA electric motor |48 has wires |43 andr |44. extending Atherefrom which are adapted` to extend to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown,- forener-` gizingthe .electric motor |48. The electric-motor;

A|46 has'j afshaft I 453 extending therefromonwhich apulley |46; ismounted, this: pulley |146 havingA a belt.- |41 :thereon which extends toV a pulley |58.. The pulley |5||gfis fixed. ori aishaft |'5|1.project ing :from the variable speediunit IM. Thus, the motorpulley |46 'imparts rotatiorrtotheshaftli throughthev belt;- 41 and pulley-f. |50' which will, inf-.turnr transmit rotation to a shaft. |53 whichals0:.extends.frcm 'the variable speed uni-t |41. Since thereare many types..- of' variable. speed units .which maybe emplcyediandiwhichf-arepro-- vided with 1an. Vinput shaft: |1liandanfoutputlshaft |53;A a detailed drawing andy description lof` the variable speed unit is believed unnecessary.n The: output shaft: |53V of the variable; speedi uni-t |4 I has.x a sprocket wheel |55-andi arpulley. |.56Jxedly mounterlthereon.l

The;Y 'sprocket wheelmli has;4 a.n chain lair mounted thereorr which: isf also@ mounted on. a sprocket wheel |60. fixedly. mounted on anoinput shaft |161. ofthe gearreduction'unitf |421. Since there are `many different ytypes' of "gearrreduction unitswhich vmay be employed, a1 detailed description 'ofv the gear reduction unit .|42 .i's deemed' unf necessary,v it beingV sucient to` stateithat the input shafthassuitable gearing associated therewith forL .transnntting rotation .to an outputfshaft |62r projecting .from the; gear: reduction :unit y| 421. This `.output-f shaft 621' fha-S a .sprocket :wheel Vl 64 xedlyv mounted thereon .onf which azsprocket 65 is *,mounted; Thissprocke'ti chain. |65 f extends upwardly-i andv iis. also mounted# on a sprocket.

Wheel |66r fixedly mounted onda ,transverse shaft |61.-` Thev transverse shaft f |51 'is rotatably mounted in bearir-ig'lblocks `|10 fsli'dably secured to the front surfaces.oftherverticallydisposed frame members 22and.26'.1

The shaft |61isa1so rotatablysmountedfin .a

|15 and |16 haverespective-sprocket chains `|11` and |18 mounted thereon (Figuretz) which ex*-y tend upwardlyA andforwardly: atan angle. as

shown in Figure 4 and are mounted von respective sprocket wheels |8| and |8.2`fwhich-fare..xed 'onI the outer ends of the respectivelshafts ||5 'and I6. The sprocket chains which connectthe. respeotive sprocket wheelsy |15 and |18to. the

sprocket wheels |8| and |82-:have been omittedfrom Figure 5 for vpurposessof "clarity, It is thus seen that the output shaft |53 on the variable speed 7transmission |4| transmits: .movement `to the conveyor C in a clockwise direction in Figures 1 and. 4 through' the connections heretofore described since the sprocket. fwheels V84 .and 10| are .fixed on the respectiveshafts |'5 aand H6A` on which the respective sprocket wheels IBI. 'and |82 are also-mounted.

Assuming the boil-off: tank'fwffto. be empty,- the boil-off liquid is initially introducedato the tankr ures '7 kand 8) having a manually operable valve `|88 interposed thereinl for controlling the "flowingY of thev liquid .from asuitable source, notI shown, through. the. pipe 81'. to.. a .pair of axially nected by means of a nipple |93 to an elbow |94. The elbow |93 has'one end of a nipple |95 connected thereto, the other end of which is connected to a pipe T |96. The pipe T |96 has a suitable centrifugal pump |91 connected thereto which has a shaft 200 extending therefrom (Figures 2 and '1) which is, in turn, connected to a motor shaft 20| by means of a suitable coupling 202. The motor shaft 20| extends from an electric motor 203 (Figure 2) having wires 204 and 205 extending therefrom to a suitable source of electrical energy, not shown, for energizing the electric motor 203 to, in turn,` drive the centrifugal pump |91.

This centrifugal pump is provided as a means of circulating the boil-off liquid introduced to the pipes |89 and |90 through the various pipes connected thereto as indicated by the arrows in Figures '1 and 8 for purposes to be later described. A pipe T 206 connects the pipe T |86 with an elbow 201 to which a pipe 2| 0 is connected. The pipe 2|0 is connected to another pipe T 2 having one end of a nipple 2|2 connected'to the other end thereof, a suitable manually operable control valve 2|3 being interposed in the pipe 2|2. The other end of the pipe 2|2, that is, the end ofthe pipe 2|2 remote from the pipe T 2|| is connected to a perforated pipe 2 4 by means of an elbow 2|5, this perforated pipe resting upon the transverse frame members 36 and 31 and having a plurality of upwardly directed bores, nozzles or ports 2|6 in the upper wall thereof. It is evident that this pipe 2|4 penetrates the end wall |5 of the Itank |0 which should be suitably sealed so as to prevent the contents of the tank l from leaking around the pipe 2 4.

Also connected to the pipeT 2|| is a nipple 220 which is connected to a transverse pipe 22| by means of a pair of elbows 222 and 223 and a nipple 224. This pipe 22| is suitably closed at its free end and is provided with a plurality of spaced nozzles or jets 225 in each ofwhicha suitably manually controlled valve 226` is interposed to control the flow of boil-off liquid through these nozzles 225'as it is circulated therethrough by virtue of the centrifugal pump |91.

These nozzles225 penetrate the wall I of the tank I0 at substantially the sameY level as the sprocket wheels 88 and |05 to thus cause the liquid to surge inwardly at this point and to assist in maintaining the formation of theloops 82 as they move therebyand immediately.v before the loops are withdrawn from the transverse rods 80 on the conveyor chain C'.

The pipe |90'is connected to al nipple 230 by means of a pipe elbow 23|, this nipple 230 being connected at its other end to a pipe T 232 to one branch of which a pipe 233 is connected, this pipe 233 having a suitable manuallyoperable control valve 234 interposed therein. The end of the pipe 233 remote from the pipe T 232 is connected to discharge pipe 235 by means of a pipe elbow 236. This discharge pipe 235 penetrates the front wall |4 of the boil-offtank |0 and rests upon the transverse frame members 84 and 35 and extends longitudinally to the center of the tankl I0 and terminates in axial alinement with and adjacent to the inner end of the discharge pipe 2|4. The proximate ends of the discharge pipes 2|4 and 235 are closed, as at 231 and 238, respectively (Figure 1). The discharge pipe 235 is also provided with a plurality of bores, nozzles or ports 2|6 in the upper surface thereof identical to the bores 2|6 in the pipe 2|4 to thus direct the boil-off liquid upwardly from the pipes 2|4 and 235 as the boiloff liquid is circulated therethrough by means of the centrifugal pump |91. This causes the boiloff liquid to surge upwardly to thus maintain the formation of the loops 82 as they move with the lower reach of the conveyor C as shown in Figure 1.

The branch of the pipe T '232 has a pipe 243 connected thereto which is connected to a transversely extending pipe 244 by means of elbows 245 and 246 and a nipple 241. This pipe 244 is disposed at a slightly higher elevation than the upper edge of the wall I4 of the tank I0 and has a plurality of inwardly and downwardly directed nozzles or jets 250 extending therefrom, each of which has a manually operable control valve 25| interposed therein for controlling the flow of the boil-off liquid therethrough. These nozzles are formed in the manner described so that the free ends thereof terminate immediately above the mean level of the boil-off liquid as it flows upwardly from the discharge pipes 2|4 and 235 over the edges of the partitions 20 and 2|. Upon the desired amount of liquid being introduced to the tank l0, the valve |88 is closed and, if so desired, the usual ingredients may then be added to the boil-off liquid after the boil-ofi' liquid |6 has been heated to a desired temperature,'in a manner to be later described.

The liquid is caused to flow from the pipes '2| 4 and 235 upwardly and outwardly over the partitions 20 and 2| and a pair of return pipes 254 and 255 are disposed between the partition 20 andthe wall l2 and the partition 2| and the wall i3, respectively. The pipes 254 and 255 may rest-upon the floor or bottom of the tank if so desired. The pipes 254 and 255 have elbows 256 and 251cm the vfree ends thereof which face upwardly and are open at their upper ends to thus direct the boil-off liquid into the pipes 254 and 255. The pipe 254 is connected to a pipe elbow 260 'which is connected to one end of a pipe 26|. This pipe 26| also has a pipe T 262 thereon, the branch of which is connected to the pipe 255. The end of the T 262 remote from the pipe 26| is suitably connected to one side of the centrifugal pump |01 and therefore the pump |91 will cause the liquid tov return thereto through the pipes 254 and 255 and will circulate the liquid through the pipes connected thereto by means of the pipe T |96 to thus cause the liquid to discharge through the respective pipes 2|4 and 255.

In order to initially heat the liquid I6 after the desired amount has been introduced to the tank |0 and when the valve |88 has been closed, the electric motor 203 is stopped so as to stop operation 0f the centrifugal pump |91 and live steam is introduced to the tank through the discharge pipes 2| 4 and 235 in a manner to be presently described.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be observed that the pipe T 206 has one end of a pipe 265 connected thereto in which a suitable manually operable control valve 266 is interposed which is opened after the desired amount of liquid I6 has been introduced to the tank l0 in a manner heretofore described. This pipe 265 has a pipe 210 connected thereto by means of an elbow 21| and this pipe 210 is connected to the branch of a pipe T212 to which live steam is directed from a suitabie'sourc'e, not shown, through a pipe 213 connected to one end thereof. The pipe T 212 has a steam pipe 214 connected to the end thereof remote from the end to which the pipe 213 is connected and this pipe 214 is suitably connected to a i9. closed steam coil21, wh hpreferably lrests upon the upper surface of the bottom of the tank |10. The free end of the steam coil 216 has a suitable steam rtra-p 211 on the free end thereof `through `Vwhich the usual condensation 'resulting from the steam in these pipes may be discharged 'in a well known manner. e

Upon the boil-off liquid I6 being initially heated to the desired temperature, the manually operable valve 266, is closed and the electric motor 2-'03 'is again venergized to cause the liquid to circulate upwardly from the bottom of the tank and'over the partitions 20 and 2 I'and downwardly to return 'to the pump |91. The steam will `be directed loont'inuously'to the steam `coil 216 and, therefore, the temperature of the liquid i6 may be 'maintained rduring the circulation thereof. It is evident that suitable thermostat'ic controls may -bev provided, lif so desired, for maintaining the uniform temperature in the liquid I6 lduring vcirculation thereof.

Now, Tas heretofore stated, the speed at which the fabric F is initially introduced to the conve'yor C may vary relative to the speed 'of the conveyor C so as to vary the length ofthe loops 82 formed in the fabric F as the fabric is draped over the transvers'e `rods 80 of the conveyor C'.

Also due to possible shrinkage of the material and various other veffects which may be produced as the loops 82 progress through the liquid 6, the speed at which the fabric F is withdrawn from the conveyor C may alsobe variable. Therefore, by referring to yFigure 4, it will be observed that the upper'platform |31 of the framework |35 has a pair of variable speed transmission units 280 and 28| mounted thereon 'which are provided with suitable'input shafts 282 and 283, lrespectively, which are driven in a manner to be later described to, in turn, impart rotation to respective output "shafts28 and 285. e

The Virn'aut y'shaft 282 'of the variable speed transmission 280 has a sprocket wheel 286 iixedly mounted on each. end thereof adjacent opposed sides of the variable speedtran'smission 280, only one of 'which is shown, and one of these sprocket wheels 286 has 'a sprocket Vchain 281 mounted thereon and the other of the sprocket wheels 286 has a sprocket chain 290 mounted thereon. The sprocket cha-in 281 i-s also mounted on the sprocket wheel |55 associated `with the firstnamed variable -`speed transmission unit" |4| and therefore rotation is thus imparted to the shaft 282. The sprocket chain 290'trans`mits rotation from the other of the Vsprocket wheels 286l on the sha-ft i282 to thesh'aft 283 'by ineansof a sprocket wheel 29| fixed on the shaft 283 projecting vfrom the variable speedtransmis'sion 28|. y 'I'he shaft 283 of the variable'speed'transmission 28| transmits rotation, by conventional means-not shown, associated with the variable speed transmission 23|, to the shaft "285 whichhas a sprocket wheel 293 nxe'fiiy mounted thereon. A sprocket chain 284 is mounted `on the Sprocket Wheel 293 and is also mounted yon a Sprocket Whel 295 fixed on a shaft 2'9'6 which is rotatably mounted in suitable bea-ring blocks fixed to the upper surface of the upper platform |31. The shaft 296 also has a pinion 291 fixed thereon which meshes with a I pinion 308 fixed on a shaft 30| which `rotatably mounted in suitable bearing blocks supported on the upper platform |31.

This shaft l30| also has a sprocket `wheel 304 'xedly mounted thereon on which ka. sprocket chain :385 is mounted. This sprocket chain 305 extends upwardly and is mounted on a sprocket wheel 306 which 'is -ixedly mounted onvthe outer end vof. the horizontally disposed vshaft v53 on which the feed roller 52 is fixedly mounted to thereby impart rotation to the roller 52. e

The shaft 282A (Figure 4) imparts rotation to the shaft 284 through conventional mechanisms, notshown, disposed within the variable speed transmission 280 and this 'shaft 284 has a `sprocket wheel 301 fixedly mounted thereon which transmits rotation to the roll |20 (Figure l) through intervening connections which are identical to ythe connections between the sprocket wheel 283 and the roll 52 and therefore a detailed description of these connections will not be-given and like parts associated with the sprocket wheels 301 bear the same reference characters ,as like parts associated with the sprocket wheelA 293 with the prime notation added. The rsprocket wheel 306 "is, of course, fikedly mounted on the transverselshaft |421 heretofore described. Thisshat |2| Yalso has v`al sprocketwheel 3|2 (Figure 4) xedly mounted thereon, on which a sprocket chain 313 (FigurejZ) is mounted, this sprocket chain 3'|`3 alsobeing mounted on a sprocket wheel 3|4 which-is VfiXedly on the shaft |28 heretofore described,V 4this shaft |26 .having the roll v|25 mounted thereon.

It i'sthus seen that the speed at which the two cloth covered rolls 52 and |120 are 'driven may be varied relative to each other` as well as relative to the speed at which the conveyor C is driven andthe dischargeroller |25 is driven at the same speed at which the roller |250 is driven. The variable speed transmissions IM, 280 and 28| may be of any conventional type such as the type which is manufactured by Link-Belt Company,

2-045 West Huntington Park Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a complete description of which isprovided in their `book No. 1274 entitled P. I. V. Gear APositive Variable Speed Transmission, fourth edition dated March 1935.

Itis thus seen that `l' have provided an improved boil-of rapl'aaratu's including a continuously moving conveyor havingA means thereon A'for receiving thie'folds of fabric directed thereto and for forming theloops 82 therein and whereby the loops are 'directed reversely of the direction in whichthe fabric is initially directed to the machine and downwardly linto the boil-off liquid |6. As the loops enter the liquid, the liquid is forced along the upper surface of the fabric in the` direction in which the loops Yare 'facing and immediately above the Aupper surface of vthe liquid in the tank |0 to thus cause the loops to lay substantially fiat or horizontal as they are initially moved into the liquid bath. This insures that the loops will be properly distended as the fabric moves downwardly on the lower reach of the vconveyor 5C. As the loops progress through the liquid bath along with the lower reach lof the conveyor C, the liquid surges upwardly at a relatively high pressure thus causing the loops to-rernain distended in an invented manner asis clearly shown in Figure l with-the result that the fabric will be evenly immersed and penetrated by the `boil-off liouidfl A's the loops v82 progress upwardly at an angle as shown in the lef-tI-ha'nd portion of Figure l, the jet-s of boil-off liquid from the 'nozzles 225 will tend'to throwtheselcops inwardly above each other so that they are still projected into the boil-off liquifdwthroughout their entire movement through the jboill-off liquid. This also insures that the loops YV62 lwill not become entangled in the bars or rods or the 'projectionsfof the conveyor C 11 as the fabric is withdrawn from the conveyor C by the rollers E20 and |25 disposed thereabove.

By moving the fabric to be treated through the boil-off liquid in a plurality of spaced inverted loops, maximum penetration as well as uniform penetration of the fabric is achieved resulting in a boil-olf process which is more efficient and of a higher quality than has heretofore been possible.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of theinvention being defined in the claims,

Iclaim:

l. An improved apparatus for boiling-off textile fabrics comprising a boil-olf tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, a horizontally disposed endless ftraveling conveyor having its lower reach disposed in the boil-olf tank and submerged in the boil-off liquid and having its upper reach disposed above the liquid level, means for forming the fabric to be treated into depending loops on the upper reach of said conveyor at a point in advance of the point where the loops enter the boil-off liquid in said tank and means disposed below the lower reach of the conveyor for directing jets of the boil-off liquid upwardly through the lower reach of the conveyor foi` inverting the loops upwardly as they are progressed through said liquid so as to insure uniform penetration of the fabric by the boil-off liquid.

2. An improved apparatus for boiling-off textile fabrics comprising a boil-olf tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, a horizontally disposed endless traveling conveyor having its lower reach disposed in the boil-off tank and submerged in the boil-off solution and having its upper reach disposed above the liquid level, means for forming the fabric to be treated into depending loops at spaced points on the upper reach of said conveyor in advance of the spaced points entering the boil-olf liquid in said tank and means for inverting the loops upwardly as they are progressed through said liquid so as to insure uniform pentration of the fabric by the boil-on liquid, said inverting means comprising means for withdrawing the liquid from rthe tank and reintroducing the same into the tank in the form of a plurality of upwardly directed jets disposed at points beneath said loops to hold said loops in upwardly inverted position.

3. An improved apparatus for boiling-off textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, a horizontally d'Lsposed endless traveling conveyor having its lower reach disposed in the boil-off tank and having its upper reach disposed above the liquid level, means for forming the fabric to be treated into depending loops on the upper reach of said conveyor to cause the loops to be passed through the boil-off liquid in said rtank, means for inverting the loops upwardly as they are progressed through said liquid so as to insure uniform penetration of the fabric by the boil-off liquid, said means for inverting the loops comprising at least one pipe disposed beneath the path of travel of the lower reach of the conveyor, said pipe having a plurality of upwardly directed bores therein and meansfor circulating the boil-off liquid through said pipes and bores under pressure to cause the :Huid to surge 12 upwardly from said bores and to thus invert the loops. l

4. An improved apparatus for boiling-orf textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, means for introducing a fabric into said tank in a plurality of spaced preformed depending loops, means for passing the fabric in loop form through the boiloff liquid and means disposed below the loops as they pass through the liquid for directing jets of the boil-off liquid upwardly against said loops for causing the loops to maintain an inverted attitude as they progress through the boil-off liquid, said last-named means including a perforated pipe disposed below the loops and a pump for withdrawing liquid from the boil-off tank and forcing the same through the perforated pipe under pressure upwardly from the lowermost portion of the boil-off tank and through the loops disposed thereabove.

5. An improved apparatus for boiling-off textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, an endless conveyor having upper. and lower horizontally disposed reaches, the lower reach being submerged in the boil-off liquid and the upper reach being disposed above the liquid level, means for introducing a fabric to the upper reach of said conveyor and forming it into a plurality of depending loops, means driving said conveyor for passing the fabric in loop form through the boil-off liquid in said tank and means for causing the loops to maintain an inverted attitude as they progress through the boil-off liquid comprising means for circulating the boil-off liquid under pressure and releasing the same in jets directed upwardly from the lowermost portion of the boil-off tank and through the loops disposed thereabove.

6. An apparatus for boiling-o textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, an endless pole conveyor having upper and lower reaches, roller means disposed above the tank for supporting the upper reach above the liquid level and other roller means disposed in the boil-orf liquid and near each end of the tank for supporting the lower reach of the conveyor, means for introducing said fabric to the upper reach of said conveyor, means positioned adjacent the point of introduction of said fabric to said conveyor for positioning said fabric in spaced depending loops about the poles on said conveyor, said boil-off tank having end walls and bottom walls, each of said end walls having adjacent the inside surface thereof a plurality of transversely spaced nozzles, a plurality of nozzles disposed in the bottom of said boil-off tank, a pump for withdrawing boil-off liquid and forcing the same through the nozzles at the ends of the tank and through the nozzles in the bottom of the tank to distend the loops of fabric as they enter the boil-off liquid to maintain the loops of fabric in an inverted distended position as they are passedthrough the liquid in said boiloff tankand to maintain the loops in distended condition as they leave the boil-olf tank and means for removing said fabric from said endless pole conveyorafter said fabric has been passed through said boil-off tank.

'7. An improved apparatus for boiling-olf textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-off liquid, said tank having a frame extending thereabove, a plurality of rollers mounted in the frame above the liquid level and also within the tank near each end thereof and below the liquid level, an endless pole conveyor 13 i supported by said rollers thus forming upper and lower reaches, a cloth feeding roll supported in said frame, means for driving said conveyor and means for driving said cloth feeding roll in timed relation to said conveyor so that fabric extending from said cloth feeding roll to said conveyor will be positioned about the poles on said conveyor in a plurality of spaced depending loops, means on Said frame for assisting in positioning said fabric about said poles on said conveyor, said boil-off tank being provided with a plurality of nozzles at fthe ends and bottom thereof, a piping system connected to all of said nozzles and connecting with the boil-off tank, a pump in said piping system for withdrawing boil-off liquid from the tank and forcing the same through all of said nozzles to thus distend and invert the loops of fabric on said conveyor and hold rthe same in spaced relation to each other as the conveyor moves said loops through the boil-off liq.- uid, means for heating and maintaining said boil-on liquid at a constant temperature and said frame also having at least one second cloth roll thereon for removing the fabric from said conveyor after it has passed through the boil-off liquid.

8. An improved apparatus for boiling-off textile fabrics comprising a boil-off tank adapted to contain a boil-olf liquid, said tank having a frame extending thereabove, a horizontally disposed endless pole conveyor having an upper reach supported by said frame above the liquid level, rollers disposed near each end of the tank and below the liquid level for supporting the lower reach of said conveyor in the lower portion of said boil-olf tank and below the liquid level, a cloth feeding roll supported by said frame above the upper reach of the conveyor, means for driving said conveyor and means for driving said cloth feeding roll in timed relation to said conveyor so that fabric extending from said cloth feeding roll to said conveyor will be positioned about the poles of the upper reach of said conveyor in a plurality of spaced depending loops, means on said frame for assisting in positioning said fabric about said poles on said conveyor, said boil-off tank being provided with a plurality of nozzles at the ends and along thc bottom thereof, all of which are directed towards the conveyor, a piping system connected to all of said nozzles and having an intake end communicating with the lower portion of said tank, a pump in said piping system for withdrawing boil-off liquid from the tank and forcing it through all of said nozzles under pressure to thus distend and invert the loops of fabric on said conveyor and to hold the same in spaced relation to each other as the conveyor moves said loops through the boil-off liquid, means for heating and maintaining said boil-off liquid at a constant temperature, said frame also having at least one second cloth roll thereon for removing the fabric from said conveyor after it has passed through the boil-off liquid, said means for positioning the fabric on the pole conveyor including a pair of closely spaced transversely extending cascade boxes having their proximate walls of lesser height than their other walls, means for introducing boil-off liquid to said cascade boxes and said fabric extending between said cascade boxes whereby boil-off liquid therein will cascade from the proximate walls against said fabric to drive the same downwardly between the poles on said conveyor.

VICTOR T. FAHRINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

